Fire detecting and alarm device



Sept. 5, 1944. c. R. MORTON 2,357,681 FIRE DETECTING. AND ALARM DEVICE Fi 'led June 2, 1943 C 1 /4/45; ES /P. Mop ro/v Patented Sept. 5, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIRE DETECTING AND ALARM DEVICE Charles R. Morton, Summit, N. J assignor of onehalf to Mary C. Farquhar, East Orange, N. J.

Application June 2, 1943, Serial No. 489,402

1 Claim.

This invention relates to fire detecting and alarm devices and more particularly to a device for automatically producing an alarming signal immediately upon the first indication of a fire or of a dangerous temperature in the vicinity of the device.

A further object is the provision of a device for producing a second alarming signal upon increase of the dangerous temperature, and upon a continuation of the rise of temperature to provide means for extinguishing a fire.

A further object is the provision of an inexpensive device comprising a container of a fire extinguishing fluid such as carbon tetrachloride, which device is provided with a plug fusible at a predetermined temperature to allow the fluid to escape for the purpose of extinguishing a fire.

A further object is the provision of a fire detecting and alarming device Which can be readily attached to a wall, ceiling, or any other desired place, and which can be manufactured at a very low cost so that the device can be sold ata price within the reach of many persons.

These and other objects are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, constituting a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a fire detecting and alarm device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the device on the line 2-2 of Fi 1.

Referring to the drawing, the device is shown in Fig. 1 adapted to accommodate two containers A and B filled with a fire extinguishing fluid such as carbon tetrachloride or the like. Referring to Fig. 1, each container is shown to have side walls I and a bottom 2, provided with an aperture which is closed by means of a plug 3, having its edges provided with a soldering compound or fusible metal 4 designed to melt at a predetermined temperature. A handle 5 is attached to the plug so that the plug can be withdrawn manually when so desired.

The upper wall of the container has its edges bent over to provide a head 6 which rests on flanges 1 of a bracket 8 having a top wall 9 through which passes a bolt l having a head H, and provided with a nut l2 to hold a flat spring IS-tightly against the top wall 9. The ends of the spring are held down in a distorted position by strips I 4, each of which is provided with a section of fusible metal l designed to release the spring when a predetermined temperature is reached. The ends of the strips M are provided with apertures through which pass the end of bolt Ill.

Positioned in apertures in the spring l3 are explosive cartridges 5, having flanges l! to hold them in place. Struck inwardly from the top Wall 9 are projections l8 arranged to'strike the cartridges l6 when the spring I3 is released.

Attached to a side wall of the bracket is a plate l9 provided with an aperture 20 to enable the device to be supported by a hook or the like from a wall or ceiling.

In operation, when a fire occurs and heats the fuses It to the predetermined temperature, the spring l3 will be released and the cartridges l6 will strike the projections I8 and explode, thus giving a sharp and attention attracting alarm.

A person in the vicinity can then manually withdraw the plug 3 and allow the extinguishing fluid to escape to extinguish the fire. If there is no person around at the time, continued heating will cause the edges 4 of the plug to fuse and allow the plug to fall out and enable the fluid to automatically escape.

The unit is designed to hold two containers A and B of extinguishing fiuid. However, brackets may be designed to hold any number of containers without departing from the spirit of the invention. The containers can be made of metal, glass, plastics, or any suitable material.

From the above description it will be seen that there has been provided a simple, inexpensive and reliable device for giving an attention attracting alarm upon the occurrence of a fire in its vicinity, and also for automatically releasing an extinguishing fluid to overcome the fire.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of the invention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed including modifications without departing from the general scope herein indicated and denoted in the appended claim.

The two sections of fusible metal l5 in the strips M are designed to fuse at two diiferent predetermined temperatures so that two successive alarms will be given. For example, onesection will-fuse at and the other section will fuse at The edge 4 of the plug 3 would then fuse at about Fahrenheit.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secur by Letters Patent, is:

In a fire detecting and alarm device, a channel-shaped bracket, a bolt supported by the bottom of the bracket, a flat spring having the bolt passing through the middle thereof, means on the bolt to secure the spring to the bottom of the bracket, strips of fusible metal engaging the ends of the spring and the bolt to hold the spring in a bowed condition, explosive cartridges carried by the ends of the spring, and projections struck out from the bottom of the bracket, said projections being arranged to strike and explode the cartridges when the strips fuse to release the spring.

CHARLES R. MORTON. 

